Since 1996
2013 - Current
Law Office of Jennifer F. Novak
Represent and advise clients on general and environmental litigation, compliance, and transactional matters involving groundwater and soil contamination, water quality, water rights, air quality, remediation, and administrative law. Recent matters include: trying a Clean Water Act citizen suit case to jury verdict; representing a metal plating company in a CERCLA/RCRA action involving the Omega Superfund Site; representing property owners in cost recovery lawsuit by California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC); negotiating with DTSC on behalf of a research facility to allow on-site hazardous waste storage; representing a former transmission rebuilding company in a CERCLA/RCRA action; negotiating with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board on behalf of landowners and industrial facilities identified as potentially responsible parties for soil and groundwater contamination; representing a Central Valley fertilizer manufacturer in negotiations with local and state agencies; advising a statewide transportation trade organization for an administrative challenge under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); advising environmental non-profit organizations in permit adoption proceedings and general water quality matters; and acting as co-counsel protecting agricultural interests from damage caused by underground injection wells.
2012 - 2013
Egoscue Law Group
Represented and advised clients, including investor-owned and public utilities, municipalities, industrial facilities, a dairy, developers, and property owners in regulatory compliance, and administrative enforcement matters.
2002 - 2012
California Department of Justice
Responsible for all stages of case management, from inception through appeal, primarily as lead trial and appellate counsel. Significant cases included: prosecution of companies responsible for groundwater and soil contamination; defense of storm water permits, basin plan amendments, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation; protection of California’s water rights; recovery of fire suppression costs; defense against claims that state regulation and policies violated the Endangered Species Act; and prosecution of illegal importation of diseased citrus products. Represented numerous agencies and departments, including: State Water Resources Control Board; various Regional Water Boards; Parks and Recreation; Forestry and Fire Protection; Air Resources Board; Fish and Wildlife; Conservation; and Food and Agriculture. Worked with other federal and state agencies, including U.S. EPA, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Public Health, and California Public Utilities Commission.
1998 - 2002
Robie & Matthai
Responsible for all aspects of case management for professional malpractice, insurance coverage, and product liability cases, including trial preparation, depositions of percipient, party, and expert witnesses, law and motion, selection and preparation of expert witnesses, arbitration, trial assistance, and client relations.
1997 - 1998
Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols
Responsible for case management and work up for trial for medical malpractice defense firm.
1996 - 1997
California Court of Appeal
Researched civil, criminal, and juvenile dependency cases, and prepared draft opinions for the Honorable Norman L. Epstein, Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Four.
1993 - 1996
J.D. (1996)
Honors: U.C. Davis Law Review: Staff Editor, 1995-1996; Member, 1994-1995; Order of Barristers; American Jurisprudence Award for Appellate Advocacy; Winner, Carr Trial Competition; Winner, 27th Annual Neumiller Competition and Best Oral Advocate; Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team Member 1994-1996 and Best Oral Advocate (1st place 1996, 3rd place 1995) in regional competitions; Legal Writing Teaching Assistant, Spring 1996
1989 - 1993
B.A. (1993) | City and Regional Planning
California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General
Administrative Law, Election Law, Government Contracts, Government Finance, Legislative & Government Affairs
